Chapter 7 - call your lawyer
By the time Theresa reached the terminal, Austin had opened the folder.
His first call came at 8:52.
She ignored it.
At 9:01, Miriam texted.
The officer has entered the property.
Fear rose inside Theresa, followed by the old instinct to protect her son. She almost called him.
Then she remembered the forged medical letter. She remembered him saying Dad is gone. She remembered David’s chair beneath plastic.
At 9:04, Austin called again.
This time she answered.
“Mom, where are you?”
“Starting my year-long cruise.”
His anger collapsed into panic.
“A court officer is at the house. Chloe says our accounts are frozen. There is an investigator asking about the medical letter. What did you do?”
“I protected myself.”
“You embarrassed us.”
“No, Austin. You did that.”
“We were trying to help you.”
“You forged my signature.”
Silence.
Then he softened his voice. “Mom, please. I am your son.”
“And I was your mother before I became your solution.”
Chloe shouted in the background that the realtor was leaving.
“Tell them to stop,” Austin said.
“I cannot.”
“Yes, you can.”
Theresa’s eyes filled, but her voice stayed even.
“For years, I taught you that love meant rescuing you from every consequence. I was wrong.”
“What am I supposed to do?”
“Tell the truth. Return what you took. Accept what happens next.”
“What happens next?”
“That is between you and your attorney.”
Austin’s voice hardened. “You will regret this.”
“No,” Theresa said. “I regret waiting this long.”
She ended the call.
The boarding agent smiled and reached for her passport.
“Welcome, Mrs. Miller.”
Theresa handed it over.
May you like
“Thank you,” she said.
And meant it.
